Agapanthus plant named ‘Sofie’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Agapanthus  hybrid cultivar named ‘SOFIE’ is disclosed, characterized by upright leaf growth, umbels with a high quantity of individual flowers of a dark blue flower color. The new variety is an  Agapanthus  hybrid, suitable for outdoor landscape and decorative cut flower stem use.

Latin name of the genus and species: Agapanthus hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘SOFIE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a chance seedling selection by the inventor, Catharina Maria Hoekstra-Arisz, a citizen of the Netherlands. The new variety was discovered at a commercial nursery in Beverwijk, The Netherlands, during the Summer of 2003, by the inventor growing in the ground among a field of mixed commercial varieties of Agapanthus. The parent varieties are unknown.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘SOFIE’ by vegetative divisions was first performed in September 2006, at a commercial nursery in Beverwijk, The Netherlands and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘SOFIE’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘SOFIE’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘SOFIE’ as a new and distinct Agapanthus cultivar:

-   -   1. Upright leaf growth.     -   2. Umbels with a high quantity of individual flowers.     -   3. Dark blue flower color.     -   4. Compact plant habit.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISION

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SOFIE’ are similar to plants of the unpatented variety, Agapanthus hybrid ‘Intermedia’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar have lighter colored scapes, foliage with a more upright habit, and more individual flowers per umbel. Additionally, the new variety produces flowers of a dark blue color, rather than the dark purple of ‘Intermedia’.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SOFIE’ are similar to plants of the unpatented variety, Agapanthus hybrid ‘Johanna’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar have a shorter, more compact umbel, longer lasting individual flowers, and more individual flowers per umbel. Additionally, the new variety produces flowers of a dark blue color, rather than the light blue of ‘Johanna’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color typical plants of ‘SOFIE’ grown outdoors in Beverwijk, The Netherlands. The plant is approximately 2 years old. The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘SOFIE’ plants grown outdoors in Beverwijk, The Netherlands. The growing temperature ranged from approximately 1° to 12° C. at night and 10° to 25° C. during the day. Plants were described in October of 2008. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical flowering types. No chemical or photoperiodic treatments were given.

-   Botanical classification: Agapanthus hybrid ‘SOFIE’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: About 21 days at approximately 22° C. . -   Root description: Moderately dense, fleshy and slightly fibrous,     color near RHS Greyed-White 156C. -   Propagation method: Vegetative divisions or tissue culture. The     plant described was propagated by tissue culture.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Semi-hardy herbaceous perennial forming multiple basal     rosettes. -   Age of plant described: Approximately 36 months from a tissue     culture plantlet. -   Container size: Field grown plant. -   Height: Approximately 29.9 cm to top of highest leaf. Approximately     66.4 cm to top of highest inflorescence. -   Plant spread: Approximately 50.6 cm. -   Growth rate: Inflorescences grow approximately 10 cm per month. -   Branching characteristics: Non-branching, forms basal clumps.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Basal rosette.         -   Average length.—Approximately 27.7 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 2.3 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Linear.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Broad cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture of top surface.—Smooth, moderately glossy.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Smooth, slightly glossy.         -   Quantity of leaves per plant.—Approximately 70.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 143A. Young             foliage under side: Near RHS Green 143B. Mature foliage             upper side: Near RHS Green 141A. Mature foliage under side:             Near RHS Green 143A.         -   Venation.—Type: Linear. Venation color upper side: Near RHS             Green N137B. Venation color under side: Near RHS Green 144A.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Summer. -   Inflorescence type and habit: Terminal umbel, growing on a scape     directly from the base of the plant. -   Flower opening: Lowest flowers in the umbel open first, followed by     consecutively higher flowers. At height of flowering period     approximately 60% of the flowers are open at once. -   Flower longevity on plant: Approximately 10 days, for individual     flowers. -   Quantity of flowers: Approximately 150 flowers per inflorescence -   Umbel inflorescence size:     -   -   Height.—Approximately 9 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 11 cm. -   Corolla:     -   -   Arrangement.—Rotate.         -   Size.—Length: Approximately 2.6 cm. Width: Approximately 3.2             cm at widest point. Lobe Length: Approximately 1.8 cm. Lobe             Width: 0.75 cm.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Shape.—Obovate.         -   Apex.—Bluntly acute.         -   Texture.—Smooth, slightly glossy, slightly velvety. -   Color:     -   -   Tepals.—When opening: Outer surface: Near RHS Violet-Blue             N89C with a central band of near RHS Violet-Blue 93A. Inner             surface: In between near RHS Violet-Blue N89D and             Violet-Blue 94A with a central band of near RHS Violet-Blue             N89B.         -   Fully opened.—Outer surface: Near RHS Violet-Blue N89D with             a central band of near RHS Violet-Blue N89B. Inner surface:             In between near RHS Violet-Blue N89D and Violet-Blue 93B             with a central band of near RHS Violet-Blue N89B. Color             changes when aging: Near RHS Violet-Blue 93C to near             Violet-Blue 94A. -   Bud:     -   -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Length.—Approximately 2.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.6 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Violet-Blue N89B. -   Sepals: Not Present. -   Pedicels:     -   -   Length.—Approximately 1.5 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 0.1 cm.         -   Aspect.—Slightly drooping to upright (average angle from             approximately 120° to 0° to −120° (0° =straight upright).         -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144B. -   Scape:     -   -   Length.—Approximately 80 cm.         -   Width.—Oval in cross-section, approximate width at widest:             1.2 cm, approximate width at narrowest: 1.0 cm.         -   Angle.—Straight upright, growing from base of plant.         -   Strength.—Very strong.         -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A. -   Fragrance: Faint, typical Agapanthus-fragrance.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:     -   -   Number.—Average 6.         -   Filament length.—Approximately 1.4 cm.         -   Filament color.—Near RHS Violet-Blue 90B, lighter towards             the base; near RHS Violet-Blue 91A.         -   Anther length.—0.15 cm.         -   Anther color.—Near RHS Violet-Blue 93C.         -   Anther shape.—Oblong.         -   Pollen.—Moderate to low, color near RHS Violet-Blue 93C. -   Pistil:     -   -   Number.—1.         -   Length.—Approximately 1.3 cm.         -   Style color.—Near RHS Violet-Blue 90B.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Flattened club-shaped. Color: Near RHS             Violet-Blue 91C. Ovary color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 150B.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: No fruits detected to date. -   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     diseases or pests has been observed in this variety. -   Drought tolerance and cold tolerance: Tolerates high temperatures to     at least 35° C. Tolerates low temperatures to at least −5° C. While     specific drought tolerance has not been observed, once plants are     established moderate water is necessary to maintain plants. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Agapanthus plant named ‘SOFIE’ as herein illustrated and described. 